PMZ Campaign: Troyes 1

Report from General Obstfelder,
commanding First Army
The battle for Troyes, dated January 20th 1945

The river being the best defence line available, I decided to place most of my units in concealed fortified positions lining the river with fields of fire commanding the open ground in front. The Americans attacked in the centre right, throwing wave after wave of units against the 2nd Panzer division and elements of the 352nd Infantry division who steadfastly stood their ground. An advance on the extreme right was held up by heavily forested ground. An advance over the frozen swamp on the extreme left was stopped and eventually thown back by heavy fire from the 189th infantry division.

Eventually the advance on the exteme right outflanked the 352nd whose morale now gave way and they retreated. This in turn precipitated the retreat of the heavily pressed 2nd Panzer division from the vital river crossing, now that its flank was exposed.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 189th Infantry Division on the left have repulsed the Americans. 2nd Pz are driving back the Americans in the centre. The Americans on the right have advanced across the river.

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At this point I suffered a serious head wound so information is sketchy but it appears that the Americans were now exhausted having suffered very heavy casualties. Some infantry and recon advanced across the river but a counter attack by elements of the now unopposed 189th infantry division together with the remaining tanks of 2nd Pz stopped them and eventually drove them back across the river. The few Americans who had crossed the river on the right were withdrawn at this point.

I hope to rejoin my command before the next attack on the riverline.